JP4780657B2 - Message receiving device and viewer terminal of broadcasting / communication integrated system - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention is directed to a broadcasting / communication integrated system in which a viewer of broadcast content transmitted from a broadcast station transmits a message from the terminal to the broadcast station, and more particularly to a message receiving apparatus and a viewer terminal for receiving a message. .

  In the broadcasting / communication integration system, viewers broadcast messages from the viewer side to the broadcasting station side in public opinion surveys, questionnaires, sweepstakes applications, audience participation quizzes, etc. linked to broadcast programs, or information that complements the broadcast content. A message requested to the side is transmitted from each viewer terminal to a reception center (message reception server).

  In such a broadcasting communication system, not only message transmission / reception is concentrated at one time, but also a reception response (ACK) or a negative response (NACK) is simultaneously returned from the message reception server to all messages. Therefore, if the traffic of these response packets is combined with the traffic of the message itself, the occurrence of congestion in the network is predicted. If congestion occurs in the message reception server or the network, not only communication from the viewer is not completed, but it may not only cause a fatal trouble in program operation, but also adversely affect other communication services.

In response to such a technical problem, Patent Document 1 discloses that in a system in which a plurality of transmission sources broadcast information, reception responses for a plurality of pieces of information arriving from different transmission sources are combined into a single packet. A technique for reducing the amount of traffic flowing through a network by transmitting is disclosed.
JP-A-9-261255

  In Patent Document 1, since reception responses for information transmitted from a plurality of terminals are returned in a single packet, if this is applied to a negative response, the traffic volume of the negative response can be reduced. However, when this is applied to the above-described interactive service using the broadband network, it is difficult to reliably return a negative response when congestion has already occurred in the network due to message concentration.

  An object of the present invention is to solve the above-described problems of the prior art and to provide a message receiving device and a viewer terminal of a broadcasting / communication integrated system capable of reducing traffic of responses to messages received via a network.

  In order to achieve the above-described object, the present invention provides a message receiving apparatus and a viewer terminal of a broadcasting / communication integrated system that receives a message transmitted via a network from a viewer terminal that has received broadcast content. Means.

  (1) A message receiving apparatus according to the present invention includes a message receiving unit that receives a message in units of packets, a first response unit that responds based on whether an acknowledgment is returned to the received packet, and a negative response to the received packet. Second response means for responding depending on whether or not to respond, and response selection means for selecting the first or second response means as response means for the received packet.

  (2) the response selection unit includes a transmission source database in which the transmission source ID of the packet is stored in advance, and a registration determination unit that determines whether or not the transmission source ID of the received packet is already registered in the transmission source database. Response means determining means for selecting a first response means for a received packet whose transmission source ID is not registered in the transmission source database and for selecting a second response means for a received packet already registered.

  (3) Response method determining means for determining a response by one of the first and second response means in the negotiation for determining the communication procedure with the viewer terminal prior to message reception is further provided, wherein the response selecting means includes a packet A transmission source database for managing the transmission source ID, registration means for registering in the transmission source database the ID of the viewer terminal for which the response by one of the first and second response means is determined in the negotiation, and transmission of the received packet A registration determination unit that determines whether or not the source ID is already registered in the transmission source database, and one of the first and second response units for a received packet whose transmission source ID is already registered in the transmission source database. Response method selection means for selecting the other for an unregistered received packet.

  (4) In addition to the above feature (3), there is further provided monitoring means for monitoring the reception status of the packet, and the response method determining means uses the second response means when the reception status is better than the predetermined status. The response is determined, and the response by the first response means is determined under a situation where the reception status is worse than the predetermined status.

  (5) The viewer terminal of the present invention includes a message transmission unit that transmits a message in units of packets, a response reception unit that receives a response returned from the message reception device with respect to the transmission packet, and a transmission that cannot receive an acknowledgment. In the negotiation for determining the communication procedure with the message receiving apparatus prior to message transmission, the acknowledgment processing means for processing the packet as an error packet, the negative response processing means for processing the transmission packet that received the negative response as an error packet, A response processing method determining unit for determining a response process by one of the response processing units, and an error packet is processed by one of the confirmation response processing unit and the negative response processing unit based on the determination result of the response processing method. Selecting means.

  According to the message receiving device of the feature (1) described above, as a response method for the received message, a response by a negative response (NACK) and a response by an acknowledgment (ACK) can be used properly, so that the response frequency can be reduced. By adopting this method, the traffic volume of response packets can be reduced.

  According to the message receiving device of the feature (2) described above, it is possible to respond to a negative response to a message received from a viewer terminal registered in advance in the message receiving device as a negative response, and to other viewer terminals. Since a general confirmation response is used, an appropriate response is possible even if the response method is different for each viewer terminal.

  According to the message receiving device of the above feature (3), the response method can be freely selected in the negotiation performed between the viewer terminal and the message reception server prior to the message exchange. It becomes possible to adaptively select a response method according to the state of the network.

  According to the message receiver of the above feature (4), a negative response is selected when the message reception status is good, and an acknowledgment response is selected when the reception status is bad, so that the traffic for response is reduced. Be able to.

  According to the viewer terminal having the feature (5) described above, both the response to the confirmation response method and the response to the negative response method can be performed on the message packet transmitted to the message receiving device.

  DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, the best embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a network configuration of a communication / broadcast fusion system to which the present invention is applied, and transmits broadcast content in which television video content, data video content and data communication content are multiplexed. Broadcasting station 1, a viewer terminal 2 such as a television 2 a, a computer 2 b, and a portable terminal 2 c that receives broadcast waves transmitted from the broadcasting station 1 and reproduces broadcast content, and these viewer terminals 2 and the Internet A two-way message receiving server 3 connected via an IP network 4 such as the above is the main configuration.

  The broadcast station 1 includes a broadcast server 1a that supplies broadcast content, and an OFDM transmitter 1b that digitally modulates and transmits the broadcast content. Each viewer terminal 2 uses, for example, a connection establishment function that establishes a connection with the message reception server 3 when an operation of transmitting an answer is performed by a viewer during viewing of a quiz program, and this connection is used. And a message transmission function for transmitting an answer (message). In addition, the message transmitted from each viewer terminal 2 is not limited to the answer to the above-described quiz program or questionnaire, but each viewer who is asked in the broadcast whether or not supplementary information is necessary regarding the broadcast content, Messages sent to respond to this are also included. When the viewer requests the supplement information by a message, the requested supplement information is transmitted from the message reception server 3 to each viewer terminal 2 via the network 4.

  FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram showing the configuration of the main part of each viewer terminal 2. The broadcast wave is received and decoded to reproduce the broadcast content, and the TV video and data video are transmitted from the speaker 26 and the display unit 25. A content reproduction unit 21 to output, a destination address identification unit 22 that identifies the IP address of the message reception server 3 registered in the broadcast content, and a message transmission unit that establishes a connection between the destination address and transmits a message And a response processing unit 24 that processes an acknowledgment (ACK packet) or a negative response (NACK packet) returned for each message packet from the message reception server 3 that has received the message.

  FIG. 3 is a functional block diagram showing the configuration of the main part of the message receiving server 3. Here, only the configuration necessary for the description of the present invention is shown, and the other configurations are not shown.

  The message receiving unit 32 receives the message transmitted from each viewer terminal 2 via the WAN-side interface (I / F) 31, and the reception result indicating whether or not the message has been normally received together with the transmission source ID. The response selection unit 35 is notified for each packet, and the packet that has been normally received is transferred to the message processing unit 33. The message processing unit 33 appropriately processes or tabulates normally received message packets, and provides them to the broadcast station 1 via the LAN side I / F 34.

  The response unit 36 sends back a negative response (NACK) to the packet that could not be normally received via the I / F 31, and the response unit 36 sends an acknowledgment (ACK) to the packet that has been received normally. And a confirmation response unit 362 that sends back a reply. The response selection unit 35 selects a response by one of the negative response unit 361 and the confirmation response unit 362 based on the reception result notified from the message reception unit 32.

  FIG. 4 is a functional block diagram showing the configuration of the first embodiment of the response selection unit 35. The same reference numerals as those described above represent the same or equivalent parts.

  In the transmission source database (DB) 351, the ID of the viewer terminal that responds with a negative acknowledgment (NACK) response to a packet that could not be normally received is stored in advance. The registration determination unit 352 determines whether or not the transmission source ID of a packet that has not been normally received is registered in the transmission source DB 351. When it is determined that the transmission source ID of the packet that has not been normally received is already registered in the transmission source DB 351, the response method selection unit 353 instructs the negative response unit 361 to return a negative response (NACK). Further, if the transmission source ID of the packet that has been normally received is not registered in the transmission source DB 351, the confirmation response unit 362 is instructed to return an acknowledgment (ACK). If the transmission source ID of the packet that could not be normally received is not registered in the transmission source DB 351, or if the transmission source ID of the packet that has been normally received is already registered in the transmission source DB 351, a negative response (NACK ) And acknowledgment (ACK) are not returned.

  FIG. 5 is a diagram showing the relationship between the reception result of the message packet and the registration state of the transmission source ID in the transmission source DB 351 and the response method. In the above-described embodiment, the transmission source ID that responds with a negative acknowledgment (NACK) only when the packet is not normally received has been described, but conversely, the packet can be normally received. The transmission source ID that responds with an acknowledgment (ACK) may be stored only when the response is received. The relationship between the packet reception result and the registration state in the transmission source DB 351 and the response method is as shown in FIG.

  Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS. 7 and 8 are flowcharts showing the operation of the viewer terminals 2a and 2b, and FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing the operation of the message receiving server 3. In the present embodiment, the ID of the viewer terminal 2a is registered in the transmission source DB 351 of the message reception server 3 as a transmission source ID that responds with a negative response (NACK) only when the message packet cannot be normally received. Explain that it is.

  The broadcast station 1 transmits the content requesting the viewer to send a message as a broadcast wave together with the destination address of the message. As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, a viewer terminal whose transmission source ID is registered in the transmission source DB 351 (hereinafter also referred to as a registered terminal) 2a, and a viewer terminal whose transmission source ID is not registered. In any of 2b (hereinafter also referred to as an unregistered terminal), when a broadcast wave is received in step S1, broadcast content is decoded in step S2, and a television image and a data image are reproduced in step S3. The IP address of the message reception server 3 registered in the broadcast content is extracted in step S4. In step S5, it is determined whether or not an answer from a quiz program or a questionnaire survey or a request for complementary information has been input by the viewer as a message. If no message input is detected, the process returns to step S1 to repeat each process.

  Thereafter, when a message is input by the viewer and this is detected in step S5, in step S6, the message transmission unit 23 accesses the destination address and establishes a TCP connection between the message reception server 3 and the viewer terminal 2. Is established. In step S7, a predetermined negotiation is performed using the TCP connection, and then message transmission to the message receiving server 3 is started on a packet basis.

  When the message reception server 3 receives the packet in step S31 of FIG. 9, it is determined in step S32 whether or not the packet has been normally received. In step S33, the transmission source ID of the received packet is identified. The success or failure of the packet reception and the transmission source ID are notified to the response selection unit 35 as a reception result. In step S <b> 34, the registration determination unit 352 determines whether or not the transmission source ID of the received packet is registered in the transmission source DB 351.

  Here, if the transmission source of the received packet is the registered terminal 2a, it is determined that the transmission source ID is already registered. Therefore, the process proceeds to step S35, and the packet reception result is determined. If the packet is not normally received, the process proceeds to step S36, where a negative response unit 361 is instructed to return a NACK packet. The negative response unit 361 returns a NACK packet in response to the instruction. On the other hand, if the packet is normally received, any response packet is not returned, and the next message packet is prepared for reception.

  On the other hand, if the transmission source of the received packet is the unregistered terminal 2b, it is determined that the transmission source ID is unregistered, so the process proceeds to step S37, and the packet reception result is determined. If the packet is normally received, the process proceeds to step S38, and an acknowledgment response unit 362 is instructed to return an ACK packet. The confirmation response unit 362 returns an ACK packet in response to the instruction. On the other hand, if the packet is not normally received, any response packet is not returned, and the next message packet is prepared for reception.

  Returning to FIG. 7, after the registered terminal 2a starts transmitting a packet in step S7, it is determined in step S8a whether a NACK packet has been returned. Here, if the NACK packet returned from the message receiving server is received, the error packet specified by the sequence number registered in the NACK packet is retransmitted. In step S9a, it is determined whether or not the packet transmission is completed. If there is an untransmitted packet, the process proceeds to step S7 and the remaining packet transmission is continued.

  Returning to FIG. 8, after the unregistered terminal 2b starts transmitting the message packet in step S7, it is determined in step S8b whether an ACK packet is returned. Here, if there is an error packet for which an ACK packet is not returned from the message receiving server, the error packet is retransmitted. In step S9b, it is determined whether or not the packet transmission is completed. If an untransmitted message packet remains, the process proceeds to step S7 and the remaining packet transmission is continued.

  FIG. 10 is a sequence diagram showing the transmission / reception timings of the message packet and the response packet in the present embodiment. The packet (X: Y) is a packet with the transmission source ID “X” and the sequence number “Y”. Is shown.

  When the message reception server 3 receives the packet (2a: 2) before receiving the packet (2a: 2) after receiving the packet (2a: 1), the message reception server 3 A NACK packet requesting retransmission is returned to the registered terminal 2a. The registered terminal 2a receives this NACK packet, identifies the error packet, and retransmits the error packet (2a: 2).

  If the unregistered terminal 2b does not receive the ACK packet from the message receiving server 3 even after a predetermined time has elapsed after transmitting the packet (2b: 4), the packet (2b: 4) is normally received by the message receiving server. The message packet (2b: 4) is retransmitted.

  FIG. 11 is a functional block diagram showing the configuration of the second embodiment of the present invention. The same reference numerals as those described above represent the same or equivalent parts.

  In the message receiving unit 32, the response method determination unit 321 negotiates the response method with the viewer terminal 2 in negotiation for determining communication procedures and various parameters prior to message reception, and negates and confirms the response method for the received message. Decide on one of the responses. Here, a case where the response method is determined to be a negative response method will be described as an example.

  In the response selection unit 35, the ID registration unit 354 registers, in the transmission source database 351, the ID of the viewer terminal for which a negative response has been determined in the negotiation. The registration determination unit 352 determines whether or not the transmission source ID of the received packet is already registered in the transmission source database 351. The response method selection unit 353 selects a response based on a negative response method for a received packet whose transmission source ID is already registered in the transmission source database 351, and selects a response based on an acknowledgment method for an unregistered received packet.

  FIG. 12 is a functional block diagram showing a configuration of a main part of the viewer terminal 2 in the present embodiment, and the same reference numerals as those described above represent the same or equivalent parts.

  In the message transmission unit 23, the response processing method determination unit 231 determines the response processing method as either a confirmation response or a negative response in the negotiation performed with the message reception server 3 prior to message transmission.

  In the response processing unit 24, the response receiving unit 241 receives a response returned from the message receiving server 3 with respect to the transmission packet. The confirmation response processing unit 243 processes a transmission packet that cannot receive the confirmation response as an error packet. The negative response processing unit 244 processes the transmission packet that received the negative response as an error packet. The selection unit 242 causes an error packet to be processed by one of the confirmation response processing unit 243 and the negative response processing unit 244 based on the determination result of the response processing method.

  Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS. FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing the operation of the viewer terminal 2, and FIG. 14 is a flowchart showing the operation of the message receiving server 3. In this embodiment, the sender DB 351 of the message receiving server 3 registers the sender ID of the viewer terminal that responds with a negative acknowledgment (NACK) reply only when the message packet cannot be normally received.

  In FIG. 13, in the viewer terminal 2, when the broadcast wave is received in step S1, the broadcast content is decoded in step S2, and the television video and the data video are reproduced in step S3. The IP address of the message reception server 3 registered in the broadcast content is extracted in step S4. In step S5, it is determined whether or not an answer from a quiz program or a questionnaire survey or a request for complementary information has been input by the viewer as a message. If no message input is detected, the process returns to step S1 to repeat each process.

  Thereafter, when a message is input by the viewer and this is detected in step S5, in step S6, the message transmission unit 23 accesses the destination address and establishes a TCP connection between the message reception server 3 and the viewer terminal 2. Is established.

  In step S7c, negotiation with the message reception server 3 is performed using the TCP connection. In this embodiment, the communication procedure and various parameters are negotiated and determined in the same manner as in the prior art in this negotiation, and in the response processing method determination unit 231, which one of confirmation response and negative response is selected as the response method. Negotiated and decided. Then, for example, if the viewer terminal 2 can handle both the confirmation response method and the negative response method, the negative response method is determined, and if the viewer terminal 2 can support only the confirmation response, the confirmation response method is inevitably determined. The

  In step S8c, the determination result of the response processing method is referred to. If the negative response method is determined, the response method flag Fres is set in step S9c. On the other hand, if the confirmation response method is determined, the response method flag Fres is reset in step S10c. In step S11c, message transmission to the message reception server 3 is started on a packet basis.

  When the message reception server 3 detects in step S51 in FIG. 14 that a new connection has been established with the viewer terminal 2, in step S52, the response method determination unit 321 establishes a connection with the viewer terminal 2. The response method is negotiated and determined in the negotiation. In step S53, the determination result of the response method is referred to. If adoption of the negative response method is determined, the process proceeds to step S54. In step S54, the ID of the viewer terminal 2 is registered in the transmission source DB 351 as the transmission source ID.

  When a packet is received in step S55, it is determined in step S56 whether or not the packet has been normally received. In step S57, the transmission source ID of the received packet is identified. The success or failure of the packet reception and the transmission source ID are notified to the response selection unit 35 as a reception result. In step S58, the registration determination unit 352 determines whether or not the transmission source ID of the received packet is registered in the transmission source DB 351.

  Here, if the transmission source ID of the received packet is not registered, the reception result is determined in step S59, and if it is normally received, an ACK packet is returned in step S60.

  On the other hand, if the transmission source ID of the received packet is already registered in the transmission source DB 351, the reception result is determined in step S62, and if not normally received, a NACK packet is returned in step S63. In step S61, it is determined whether message reception has been completed. If there is an unreceived packet, the process returns to step S55 to receive the next packet. If there is no unreceived packet, the process returns to step S51 to prepare for reception of the next message.

  Returning to FIG. 13, after the viewer terminal 2 starts transmitting the packet in step S11c, the response method flag Fres is referred to in step S12c, and the current response method is the confirmation response method (Fres = 0) and the negative response. It is determined which of the methods (Fres = 1) is used. If the confirmation response method is selected, the process proceeds to step S14c, and if the negative response method is selected, the process proceeds to step S13c.

  In step S14c, it is determined whether or not an ACK packet has been returned. Here, if there is an error packet for which an ACK packet is not returned from the message receiving server 3, the error packet is retransmitted. In contrast, in step S13c, it is determined whether a NACK packet has been returned. If the NACK packet returned from the message receiving server 3 is received, the error packet specified by the sequence number registered in the NACK packet is retransmitted. In step S15c, it is determined whether or not the packet transmission is completed. If there is an untransmitted packet, the process returns to step S11c and the remaining packet transmission is continued.

  FIG. 15 is a functional block diagram showing the configuration of the third embodiment of the present invention. The same reference numerals as those described above represent the same or equivalent parts.

  In the present embodiment, a reception status monitoring unit 37 that monitors the packet loss, error rate, delay time, or jitter of the received packet to determine the reception status of the packet is provided, and the response method determination unit 321 of the message reception unit 32 includes: If the viewer terminal 2 can cope with both an acknowledgment response and a negative response, the response method in the negotiation is determined as a negative response method if the reception status is better than a predetermined reference state, and the reception status is predetermined. It is characterized in that if it is worse than the reference state, the confirmation response method is determined. The reception status monitoring unit 37 monitors the reception status in a time window of a certain period, sequentially updates the error rate and the like, and determines the response method by comparing the monitoring result with the reference status.

  In the second and third embodiments described above, the viewer terminal 2 and the message receiving server 3 negotiate prior to message exchange, and the response method is discussed and determined therein. The present invention is not limited to this, but the response method currently selected from the response message reception server 3 via the broadcast station 1 is notified in advance to all the viewer terminals via broadcast waves, Only the confirmation may be performed in the negotiation. In this way, it is possible to reduce the time required for negotiation and the amount of traffic.

It is the functional block diagram which showed the network structure of the broadcast communication integrated system with which this invention is applied. It is the functional block diagram which showed the structure of the principal part of a viewer terminal. It is the functional block diagram which showed the structure of the principal part of a message reception server. It is the functional block diagram which showed the structure of 1st Embodiment of a response selection part. It is the figure which showed the relationship (the 1) with the reception result of a message packet, the registration state of transmission origin ID, and a response method. It is the figure which showed the relationship (the 2) between the reception result of a message packet, the registration state of transmission origin ID, and a response method. It is the flowchart which showed operation | movement of the viewer terminal (registered terminal) in 1st Embodiment. It is the flowchart which showed operation | movement of the viewer terminal (unregistered terminal) in 1st Embodiment. It is the flowchart which showed operation | movement of the message reception server in 1st Embodiment. It is the sequence diagram which showed the transmission / reception timing of the message packet and response packet in 1st Embodiment. It is the functional block diagram which showed the structure of the principal part of the message reception server in 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is the functional block diagram which showed the structure of the principal part of the principal part of the viewer terminal in 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is the flowchart which showed operation | movement of the viewer terminal in 2nd Embodiment. It is the flowchart which showed operation | movement of the message reception server in 2nd Embodiment. It is the functional block diagram which showed the structure of the principal part of the message reception server in 3rd Embodiment of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Broadcasting station, 2 ... Viewer terminal, 2a ... Television, 2b ... Computer, 2c ... Portable terminal, 3 ... Message reception server, 4 ... IP network

Claims (3)

In a message receiving device of a broadcast communication fusion system that receives a message transmitted via a network from a viewer terminal that receives broadcast content,
Message receiving means for receiving messages in packet units;
First response means for responding depending on whether or not an acknowledgment is returned to the received packet;
Second response means for responding depending on whether a negative response is returned to the received packet;
Response selection means for selecting the first or second response means as response means for the received packet ;
The response selection means includes
A source database in which the source ID of the packet is stored in advance,
Registration determination means for determining whether or not the transmission source ID of the received packet is already registered in the transmission source database;
Response method determining means for selecting one of the first and second response means for a received packet whose source ID is unregistered in the source database and selecting the other for the registered packet A message receiving device for a broadcasting and communication fusion system.   In a message receiving device of a broadcast communication fusion system that receives a message transmitted via a network from a viewer terminal that has received broadcast content,
  Message receiving means for receiving messages in packet units;
  First response means for responding depending on whether or not an acknowledgment is returned to the received packet;
  Second response means for responding depending on whether a negative response is returned to the received packet;
  Response selection means for selecting the first or second response means as response means for the received packet;
  Response method determining means for determining a response by either one of the first and second response means in a negotiation for determining a communication procedure with the viewer terminal prior to message reception;
  The response selection means includes
  A source database that manages packet source IDs;
  Registration means for registering in the transmission source database the ID of the viewer terminal for which a response by one of the first and second response means is determined in the negotiation;
  Registration determination means for determining whether or not the transmission source ID of the received packet is already registered in the transmission source database;
  Response source selection means for selecting one of first and second response means for a received packet whose source ID is already registered in the source database and selecting the other for an unregistered received packet. A message receiving device for a broadcasting and communication fusion system. A monitoring means for monitoring the reception status of the packet;
The response method determining means determines a response by the second response means when the reception situation is better than a predetermined situation, and a response by the first response means when the reception situation is worse than the predetermined situation. The message receiving apparatus of the broadcasting / communication integrated system according to claim 2 , wherein:

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